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This message will take the form of a simulated discussion between a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named Chris. Chris: Joe in the last couple of weeks we have
been discussing the reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses don't
celebrate Christmas. When I read from a very old Watchtower
magazine I was surprised to see that originally the
Watchtower taught that Christmas was alright for Jehovah's
Witnesses to celebrate and that the date, although it wasn't
important, corresponded to his conception rather then his birth. Joe: I was never told why the Watchtower
celebrated Christmas in their early years but I still
believe that Christmas is a pagan holiday and is condemned
by the Bible. After all, Chris, did Jehovah ever command
Christians to celebrate the birth of his son? Chris: There is no direct command but I believe
that there is a precedence in scripture that allows God's
people to have the freedom to chose their own holiday in
order to celebrate God's gift of life sent in the person of
God's son. Joe: I have never seen any scripture like
that. Chris: Joe, take a look at the Book of Esther.
You remember the story - God's people were faced with
complete annihilation shortly after Esther became Queen.
Without regard for her life Esther approached the king and
plead for the life of her people. But the law that called
for the death of the Jews had been signed with the king's
name and signet ring and could not be revoked. In order to
save the Jews, Queen Esther was given the king's signet ring
and permission granted for her to write a law that would
protect them. The new law allowed the Jews to gather
together to protect their lives. Joe, read what happed from
Esther 9:1 from the New World Translation. Joe: "...on the day for which the enemies of
the Jews had waited to domineer over them, there was even a
turning to the contrary, in that the Jews themselves
domineered over those hating them." Chris: The Jews were so happy that they were saved from their enemies that they instituted their own holy day or holiday and called it Purim. In Esther 9:9-31 it says "Therefore the Jews...celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another...And Mordecai wrote these things...to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun...they called these days Purim...the Jews established...that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year...they had decreed for themselves." Joe was it okay with Jehovah that the Jews created their own holiday, gave it a name and accepted the custom to celebrate Purim every year? Joe: Well, I guess it was alright with Jehovah.
I know that the Jews celebrated Purim in Jesus time and
still do to this day. Jesus never condemned the
celebration. Chris: That's right Joe. You see Purim was
instituted by the Jews and the very day that Satan
instituted as a day of death for the Jews was turned around
as a victorious
celebration for them.
In the same way Christians have the freedom to chose to
celebrate the marvelous gift of God's Son. The Christians
who originally instituted the celebration of the conception
together with the birth of our Savior believed that it was
right to honor Jesus on any day, and Christians throughout
the centuries have agreed. As a result December
25th the day that pagans worshiped the sun in
the sky, was victoriously taken back for God in order to
honor and adore God's gift of His Son. The victory of light
over darkness has been so outstanding that the pagan worship
of the sun on December 25th has
long disappeared. Joe: I've never thought of it that way before.
But, Chris, I could never celebrate Christmas because if I
did I would be disfellowshipped. I would be kicked out of
the kingdom. Chris: That is a very drastic action. Can we
discuss next week the reasons why the Watchtower kicks
people out of the kingdom for celebrating
Christmas? Joe: Sure. |
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